NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was infuriated that NHLPA chief Donald Fehr would suggest that a labor deal was close to being done last Thursday before talks quickly broke down. That pointed reaction was not lost on CBC hockey analyst Don Cherry, who said has never seen the NHL boss like that.

“I’m not saying he was crying or anything, but he actually had water on the side of his eyes, he was so mad,” Cherry told Brady and Lang on Sportsnet 590 The Fan on Monday. “I’ve never seen him like that, and I know him personally. I think it’s going to get personal right now. I think they have to hold him back a little bit and he’s going to have to bite his lip a little bit because I think it’s getting personal right now. But I still say they’ll be playing in January.”

CBC hockey analyst Don Cherry believes that the NHL will be back in business in January. (AP Photo)

While there are rumblings of talks resuming sometime this week, nothing has been set yet. Meanwhile, Cherry said it might be worth it for the players’ union to put a secret ballot to its membership to gauge where the majority of players are at in the process. Otherwise, the rank-and-file players may never speak their mind when the league’s biggest stars, who are making the most money, are the biggest voices in the process.

“You would be nailed to the cross if you ever stood up and said, ‘Let’s accept the owners’ suggestion and contract,’” Cherry said. “ … What’s the harm in a secret ballot? If it comes out 100 percent reject, OK, now you know where you stand.”

So if the commissioner doesn’t think a deal is close, it’s hard to think we’re in the final stages of negotiations. However, as last week showed, when Tuesday and Wednesday produced talks that indicated major movement toward a deal, anything is possible as long as the parties find a way to say yes. Cherry thinks they can get it done.